Five new independent members have joined the Active Travel Board for Wales, the body responsible for bringing together delivery partners and scrutinising progress of active travel in Wales.
Chaired by Dafydd Trystan Davies, the Active Travel Board was reconstituted in 2022 to support the delivery of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013. With secretariat support provided by the Design Commission for Wales, the Board includes representatives from local authorities, Wales Local Government Association, Transport for Wales, Public Health Wales, Transform Cymru and the Welsh Government’s Department for Transport.
Professor of Transport and Health Alan Tapp, Shropshire School Travel Plan Co-ordinator Rhiannon Letman, Wales Lead Officer for Cycling UK Gwenda Owen, Director of RTPI Cymru Roisin Willmott and Campaigns Officer for RNIB Wales Kirsty James, have all now joined as independent members.
A key focus for the Active Travel Board in 2023-2024 will be to support local authorities with the delivery of their active travel strategies and promote sustainable travel, within the context of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act and Llwybr Newydd, the Wales Transport Strategy 2021.
The Deputy Minister for Climate Change with responsibility for transport, Lee Waters said:
“The ambition we have set ourselves for increasing levels of walking and cycling is testing and will not only require a change in approach, but a change in culture. We have refocused the board to give it greater independence and a stronger license to challenge to help us make this leap. We won’t achieve our climate change targets without it.”
Chair of the Active Travel Board, Dafydd Trystan Davies said:
“With a remit from the Welsh Government to advise on the development and implementation of the Active Travel Action Plan, we are focused on working with our delivery partners to change the way that we travel in Wales.
“Llwybr Newydd – the Welsh Transport Strategy sets out ambitious goals on modal shift – prioritising walking, cycling and sustainable public transport. We will hold the Welsh Government to account to ensure that the targets set are backed up by realistic delivery plans, so that everyone in Wales can enjoy active travel.
“We welcome our five new independent members to the Board. I am keen to ensure a good geographical spread of independent members and therefore, we are inviting further applications from others who have the relevant expertise from North Wales and Mid Wales.”
Roisin Willmott, Director of RTPI Cymru and newly appointed member of the Active Travel Board said:
“Walking and cycling offer opportunities to meet many of the challenges we face today – individually and societally, and the more the shift is made from using cars, the better it will be for everyone. I am excited to contribute to the work of the Board to encourage and enable more people to walk and cycle in Wales.”